Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside expands advanced cardiac imaging capabilities

Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside is expanding its advanced heart imaging capabilities. The addition of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides patients in Northeast Florida greater access to preventive care for a range of complex heart conditions.

Duval County continues to experience heart disease mortality rates above the Florida average, underscoring the need for expanded access to preventive cardiovascular care, earlier diagnosis, and innovative technologies that help identify disease before a heart attack or stroke occurs.

"Expanding advanced cardiac imaging at Riverside is another important step in strengthening the cardiovascular care available to our community," said Andrew Gnann, President and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside. "This addition allows more patients to receive advanced cardiac imaging close to home while expanding our hospital's longstanding commitment to heart care."

Cardiac MRI is a noninvasive imaging exam that provides clinicians with highly detailed information about the heart's structure and function. The technology can detect inflammation, scar tissue, and other changes that may not be as clearly identified through other imaging methods.

"Cardiac MRI gives us another powerful tool to better understand what is happening within the heart muscle," said Lucien Abboud, MD, cardiologist with Ascension St. Vincent's. "We use this technology to more precisely characterize a patient's condition, clarify a diagnosis and prognosis, and use that information to help guide treatment decisions."

Cardiac MRI can be particularly valuable for patients with cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, heart failure, cardiac scarring or fibrosis, congenital heart disease, and ischemic heart disease. It can also provide additional insight when previous cardiac testing does not offer a complete picture of a patient's condition.

The addition of cardiac MRI strengthens Riverside's ability to care for patients with increasingly complex cardiovascular conditions. The program adds an important diagnostic capability to the communities we serve and builds on the exceptional clinical foundation of specialized and advanced cardiovascular services at the hospital.

For more information on cardiology at St. Vincent's, visit Ascension.org/JaxHeart.